The Rise of the Little White Dress

New York Times

2 days ago

Kateryna Zemliakova donned a floor-length gown with voluminous removable sleeves by Rara Avis for her wedding ceremony at a 14th-century castle in the Czech Republic in May. But her real statement look was the minidress with flutter sleeves, made by Sova Nataliia, that she wore for the reception.
'I picked the minidress about eight months before finding my ceremony dress,' said Ms. Zemliakova, 30, who works in pharmaceuticals and is based in Prague. 'The moment I saw it on Instagram, I knew that it was the dress. I wanted a look that felt elegant but still playful, something that would reflect my true personality and add a touch of fun to the celebration.'
No longer reserved for intimate nuptials or micro-weddings, minidresses have recently taken center stage in many wedding wardrobes. The British singer Charli XCX wed George Daniel, the drummer for the rock band the 1975, in July wearing a corseted minidress by Vivienne Westwood. She was the latest of a growing number of celebrity brides to embrace the look.
'Brides are moving away from formulaic bridal wear,' said Brigitte Stepputtis, the design director of bridal at Vivienne Westwood. 'Mini silhouettes resonate because they are playful but timeless.'
The designer Idan Cohen, who created the custom after-party dress that Demi Lovato wore for her May nuptials to the singer Jordan Lutes, agreed: 'Many brides don't want to be seen as a princess for the entire evening, and minidresses can give them that moment of showstopper attention without the large gown,' he said.
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